Certainly the world No 1 was not slow here in Philadelphia to pay tribute to those black golfers who cleared a path through segregation and prejudice.

The question was the kind Woods usually swerves so close to a major championship – and few are as major as this US Open at Merion. This weekend brings the fifth anniversary of Woods' last win in one of golf’s four defining tournaments: the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, where Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major titles looked doomed.

The question from the floor was: “Can you talk about Charlie Sifford and Calvin Peete and how they paved the way for you?”

Inspired by Jackie Robinson’s example in baseball, Sifford was the first black American player to defeat golf’s “Caucasians only” rule six decades ago.

At the 1952 Phoenix Open he and his all-black foursome discovered excrement in the cup at the first hole. Peete won 12 PGA events between 1979 and 1986.

Woods is more relaxed in press conferences nowadays but it was still a surprise to hear him tackle the question with such relish, moments after he had piled more pressure on García by revealing that, as of lunchtime on Tuesday, there had been no direct verbal apology from his Spanish adversary.

With his “fried chicken” reference García had evoked Fuzzy Zoeller’s infamous 1997 remark about Woods choosing “fried chicken and collard greens — or whatever the hell they serve” for the Masters dinner.

“It was a tough time for Charlie to go through what he went through, but he paved the way for a lot of us to be where we’re at,” Woods said. “I know my dad probably wouldn’t have picked up the game if it wasn’t for what Charlie did.

“I’ve always called him my grandpa, the grandpa I never really had. I’ve gotten to know him through the years and it’s been fantastic. We owe a lot to him and all the pioneers that have paved the way for us to be here.”

It may be ascribing excessively Machiavellian tendencies to Woods to say he offered these comments to turn the screw on García, but offence was clearly taken on the American’s side.

He displayed his combative side too by admitting his aim on a golf course is to “kick everyone’s butt”. At the very least the García feud has shifted the searchlight away from Woods’ five years without a major title.

This week he picked out “60” as the age to start seriously worrying whether the Nicklaus record might remain unbroken and said: “I feel very comfortable with where my game is headed. I can put myself in contention at every major I play in – whether I win or not, who knows – but if you put yourself there enough times, you’re going to win a bunch.

“That’s what I’ve done throughout my entire career. I’ve got 14 of them. I haven’t won every one, but I’ve put myself there a lot. I’ve had my chances over the past five years to win major championships. It’s not like I’ve missed the cut or shot 80 in every round.”

Before Tuesday practice at Merion he restated his intention to hunt down every prize, big or small: “I think I just enter events to win, and that’s it, whether there’s a lot of people following or there’s nobody out there, like how it was at the AT&T on Saturday last year. Not a single soul out there.

“It’s still about winning the event. That’s why I played as a junior, all the way through to now is just to try to kick everyone’s butt. That to me is the rush. That’s the fun. That’s the thrill.

“And it’s been nice to be a part of the mix for 17 years now out here and be a part of a lot of great duels and a lot of great battles. And that to me is why I prepare, why I lift all those weights and put myself through all you need to, to be in those type of positions.”

“This is one of the great sporting towns in the country. They’re passionate about all sports,” he said. “ We had an event at [nearby] Aronimink, and it was unbelievable. The fans were incredible. It was electric. And I think this week will be the same.”

Especially as Woods starts out Thursday and Friday with Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy in line with the United States Golf Association’s policy of pairing the top three players for the first 36 holes.

While the crowds roar this trio through a part of Philadelphia where “old money” prevails, Woods will not care what torments the galleries have planned for García.